title: High affinity [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding sites in suicide brains.
abstract: Specific binding of [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine was simultaneously examined in human brains (frontal cortex, temporal cortex, cingulate cortex, hypothalamus, hippocampus and amygdala) from 11 controls and 11 depressed suicide victims. A single saturable high affinity site was obtained for both radioligands. Age was not related to significant changes in [3H]imipramine and [3H]paroxetine binding parameters, which indicates the stability of the brain serotonergic system with increasing age. A major finding of the present study concerns the existence of a significant decrease in the maximum number (Bmax) of [3H]imipramine binding sites in hippocampus from depressed suicides as compared with the control group, without changes in the binding affinity (Kd). In contrast, when [3H]paroxetine was used as radioligand, no changes in either Bmax or Kd were detected in any of the brain regions studied. These findings suggest that [3H]imipramine may be a better marker than [3H]paroxetine when alterations in the presynaptic serotonergic uptake site are to be detected.
authors.affiliation: Hormone Unit (Biochemistry Department), Hospital Princeps D'Espanya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rosel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Arranz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oros
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Menchón
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001665:Binding Sites; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007099:Imipramine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000378:metabolism*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D013405:Suicide
chemical_list: D007099:Imipramine; D017374:Paroxetine; D012701:Serotonin; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors